Insider: NFC North lead is within sight

Nov. 18, 2012

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Written by

Rob Demovsky

Press-Gazette

Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley (88) fights off Detroit Lions cornerback Chris Houston (23) after making a catch during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game at Ford Field in Detroit. Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette

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The Insider's take on Sunday's game between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit. The Packers won 24-20.

The big picture

If things break right for the Packers, by the end of Monday they will be in first place in the NFC North. All they need is for the Chicago Bears to lose on “Monday Night Football” at San Francisco. With Bears quarterback Jay Cutler sidelined with a concussion, the Packers’ chances look pretty good. A loss by the Bears would leave them with the same 7-3 record as the Packers, who won the season’s first head-to-head matchup in Week 2 at Lambeau Field.

Thumbs up

Welcome back to the offense, Jermichael Finley. For the first time since Week 5, the tight end had more than two catches in a game. Though he managed only three catches, two of them were perhaps the biggest plays in the game for the offense, and he posted a personal season best of 66 yards receiving.

His 20-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was his first score since the season opener against San Francisco. Finley found himself wide open when both of Detroit’s inside linebackers covered running back James Starks, who was setting up for a screen to the right. Finley crossed the middle, caught the ball at the 15 and beat three defenders to the end zone.

Then in the fourth quarter, he helped set up the go-ahead touchdown when he caught a short out and took it 40 yards to the Lions’ 31-yard line. Rodgers, who hadn’t looked Finley’s way much in the previous four games, changed the play at the line. He moved Finley, who went from being tight to the line of scrimmage in a three-point stance to the slot right in a two-point stance.

It might have been just the kind of game Finley needed to restore his connection with his quarterback.

Thumbs down

The Packers find themselves in a tough spot with Mason Crosby, who missed field goals from 50 and 38 yards (both wide left). Really, he missed twice from 50, although the first one didn’t count because the Lions called a timeout right before the ball was snapped. After Crosby pushed that kick wide right, he overcorrected and hooked his second one.

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Though he did make a 39-yard field goal with 19 seconds left to give the Packers a four-point lead, forcing Detroit to score a touchdown to beat them, that’s probably not enough to shake Crosby out of his funk. Since drilling his first five field goals of the season, he has made just six of his last 13 attempts.

The Packers will have to consider working out some kickers this week, but the last thing they want to do is get into a revolving-kicker situation. That rarely works.

Crosby’s too talented to give up on, but the Packers can’t let missed field goals in perfect (climate-controlled) situations cost them games.

Play of the game

When the book is closed on the 2012 season, M.D. Jennings’ 72-yard interception return for a touchdown with 8:31 left in the third quarter Sunday might go down as one of the plays of the season.

Jennings picked off a pass that Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw behind tight end Tony Scheffler, who tipped the ball. The touchdown gave the Packers their first points since Finley’s touchdown early in the second quarter and a 14-10 lead.

Turning point

After the Lions took a 20-14 lead on Jason Hanson’s 27-yard field goal with 4:25 left in the game, the Packers knew a field goal on their ensuing possession wouldn’t be enough. What followed was one of the best clutch drives of Rodgers’ career. He wisely audibled to the play that Finley took for 40 yards and then floated a risky, but spot-on pass that Randall Cobb caught for the 22-yard, go-ahead touchdown with 1:55 left.

Did you notice?

♦ Rookie safety Sean Richardson spelled Jennings for part of the second half while Jennings took intravenous fluids for cramps in his calves.

♦ Defensive coordinator Dom Capers didn’t play a snap of his base 3-4 defense. He used his nickel and dime packages almost exclusively.

♦ Jordy Nelson had the Packers’ only dropped pass of the game.

By the numbers

9 — Consecutive NFC North wins by the Packers, breaking the previous team best of eight straight set twice (1996-97 and 2001-02).

9 — Receptions by Randall Cobb, matching his career high set in Week 1 against San Francisco.

74 — Rushing yards by James Starks, the most by a Packers running back since Cedric Benson gained 81 in Week 2 against Chicago. Starks needed 25 carries and averaged just 3.0 yards.